The Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and the Puerto Plata Destination Tourism Cluster (CTDPP) signed an inter-institutional collaboration and cooperation agreement to carry out reciprocal activities, coordinate and join efforts in the management of technical resources that allow the execution of plans, programs, projects, works and initiatives jointly.
The signing of the agreement will promote cooperation between both institutions for the development, strengthening, and consolidation of projects or areas considered priorities and of national and educational interest.
Specifically, they will promote collaborative market intelligence consulting, creating opportunities for competitiveness and growth through research, establishing indicators to assess tourism policies and initiatives, and providing up-to-date data on the evolution of demand, supply, and customer satisfaction levels.
This alliance was signed by Reverend Father Dr. Secilio Espinal, Rector of PUCMM, and Birgitt Heinsen, President of the Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster, who committed to implementing and supporting research and studies that will increase development in science, technology, and innovation, integrating the entire tourism value chain, in order to strengthen sustainability and accelerate the socio-economic development process of the Puerto Plata destination.
Reverend Espinal highlighted the very special nature of the agreement, "because it is the province where PUCMM offered the first technical training in the area of tourism in 1979, and later in 1981, we would offer the degree program; history brings us together to envision this center as a strategic unit with a vision for the future.".
The rector of PUCMM thanked the CTDPP for the trust placed in the University to be able to walk together, to have opportunities, creating value chains and working on the training and strengthening of human resources to respond to the needs, challenges and demands of the sector and being aware of the leadership that is required.
Birgitt Heinsen, president of the CTDPP, expressed gratitude to PUCMM for their interest in establishing this cooperation framework, at a time when tourism in the province has grown significantly, presenting a series of opportunities and challenges for which the construction of statistics for systematic analysis of tourism situations and trends is essential, since it will facilitate decision-making and the analysis of the impact of policies and management plans.
Heinsen stated that “having the advice and collaborative support of the prestigious and established PUCMM is a privilege that we greatly value, and we are confident that the production and distribution of knowledge will have a significant impact on the economic, social, and cultural development of the industry, our region, and the country.”.
The entities commit to supporting researchers, teaching staff and students, within the framework of the binding provisions and internal procedures of each institution, with the intention of the agile exchange of opportunities between both institutions, carrying out joint editions of scientific, technical or any other type of publications that respond to the common interest of both institutions.
Similarly, the development of research projects, in accordance with budgetary availability, in any of the branches of common interest of both institutions, creation and organization of coordinated activities to encourage research, organization of seminars and activities related to research, science and technology, student and research internships.
Representing PUCMM at the meeting were Dr. Iluminada Severino, Vice-Rector of Administration and Finance; Professor Julissa Pichardo, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences; Professor Kenia Rodríguez, Director of the School of Tourism and Gastronomy; Professor Jetti de Jesús; and Professor Lewis Infante, a faculty member of the same school. Ambra Attus, Executive Director of the Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster (CTDPP), represented the CTDPP.
The signing ceremony for this alliance took place on Tuesday, August 1st, in the Rector's Meeting Room, on the Santiago Campus.
